Ignition apparatus



C, T. MASON.

EGNITION APPARATUS,

APPUCATION FILED APH, f1.1

Fatented Das: 28, H

3SHES-SHEE" /lV VEN TOI? C//d//eJT/Vdsa/ C. I. MASON.

IGNITION APPARATUS.

APPLmATloN man APR. e, 1920.

1,363,742. Patented Dee. 28,1920.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

kades /V'so/i M708.

A TTU/MIE UNITEDY STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLS THOMS MASON, 0F SUMTER, SOUTH CAROLINA, A-SSIGNOR TO SPLITDORF.ELECTRICAL COMPANY, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY.

IGNIT'LN APPARATUS.

Specieation'of Letters Patent.

Patented Deo. 28, 1920.

Application filed April 6, 1926. Serial No. 371,753.

To all whom t may concern.

Be it known that I, CHARLES T. Mason, a citizen of the United States,residing Sumter, in the county ot7 Sumter, State ot South Carolina, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in ignition Apparatus, ofwhich the following is a descripu tion, ref erence being had to theaccompanyn ing drawing and to the :'igures of reference marked thereon.

This invention relates 'to new and useful improvements in ignitionapparatus, more particularly to an ignition device having a fixed andmovable electrode adapted 'to cooperate with each other within an enginecylinder. The current is supplied tothe electrodes by an ignitiongenerator of the magneto type. f

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an ignition apparatusof the above character, wherein two unitary structures are involved, oneof which is an integral bracket having two portions, one of which issubstantially at right angles to the other and one of which ortionscarries the electrodes. The other umtary structure consists of themagneto generator with certain parts permanently fixed thereto but whichcoperate with the electrodes when the two unitary structures are broughttogether.

A further object of my invention is to provide two unitary structures asabove set forth which may be easily and quickly placed in coperativerelationship and the operating connections between the two structuresare automatically made by the positioning of the magneto generator onthe bracket.

Another object of my invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter, wherein there is no exposed flexible connections be-I tweenthe generator and the electrodes, as such flexible connections as havebeen used in the past give more or less trouble due to breakage andloose contactsv from vibration, etc. i

Another object of my invention is to provide a structure in which it isimpossible to remove ythe bracket from the engine without first takingthe magneto oli' the bracket.

Another object of my invention is to provide a 'trip lever mechanism forthe current generating portion of the generator which is relativelysimple but will give long life in operation.

Another object o-my invention is to provide a housing or the movingparts so as 'to protect them vfrom injurious agents.

i, @ther and 'further objects wiil be apparent to one skilled in the artafter study of the speciication and drawings annexed thereto.

in the drawings, TFigure l is a perspective View showing the completeassembled ignition apparatus.

Fig. 2 is a top view of Fig. l with a por- 'tion of the yoke member cutaway.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. l but with the vertical part of thebracket carrying electrodes removed, the lever for removing the movableelectrode being shown in dotted position.

F ig. i is a lett hand end View of the ignition generator and bracket.

Fig. 5 is a view of the bracket without the generator or electrodesmounted thereon, the View being taken from the backside of Fig. l.

Fig. 6 is a part sectional view through the fixed electrode and thevertical'portion of the bracket.

Fig. 7 is a detailed view showing the xlriethod of attaching thespringsshown in Referring now to the details, wherein like numbers refer tocorrespondingparts in the various views, l is a bracket having twoportions 2 and 3, which are preferably made integral'one to the otherand arranged substantially at right angles. The vertical portion 3 has aplug ety through which pass a movable electrode 5 and a fixed electrode(i, suitable insulators being used to insulate the electrode 6, as willbe seen in Fig. 6. The plug portion 4 is adapted to t within an enginecylinder so that the surface of the vertical portion 3 can be boltedagainst a' smooth surface on the engine b *means of the bolts passingthrough holes f and 8. A part of the backside of the portion 3 projectsrearwardly as indicated by `the shoulder 9, the purpose of which will behereinafter referred to.

Joining the portions 2 and 3 of the bracket l on the backside (see Fig.l) is a web flange l0, which greatly increases the strength of thebracket, at the same time conceals or masks the hole Sso that when thegenerator is on the bracket it is impossible to get at the boltpassingthrough the hole 8, making it necessary to remove the generatorfrom the bracket before taking the bracket from the engine. Thehorizontal portion 2 of the bracket is strengthened at the center by aboss 11. The boss 11 is slotted longitudinally as indicated at 12 forthe reception of set screws 13 and 14, which are used to fasten themagneto 15 to the bracket. The current generating member has its shaltextended and carries thereon a -trip lever 16 which has a notch 17 forthe reception of an engine actuating lever which operates the member 16in a well known manner. hastened to the generator frame, adjacent to thetrip lever 16 is a yoke 18, which has a portion 19 bent over andextending laterally therefrom toward the vertical member 3 and adaptedt'o tit over the shoulder 9. llars 20` are formed ot' this laterallyextending poition of the yoke 18,

which serve as supports for the pins 21 on' which are carried collars22, which have holes 23, much larger 'than the pins 2l for the purposehereinafter referred to. The one end of springs 24 are bent'aroundgrooves in the collars 22, while the other end of the springs 24`areattached to corresponding pins 25 on' the trip member 16. rllhe movableelectrode 5v carries a lever 26 adapted to be engaged by the cam nose 2Tof trip lever 16. A spring 23 is-also carried by the movable electrodeso as to normally hold the contacts 29 normally closed. `When theapparatus is in normal position the trip lever 16 is not in engagementwith the lever 26.

ln previous types of ignition generators of this character it has beencustomary to bring the insulated terminal of the generating coil to themovable electrode or a cooperating contact by a flexible conductor.

These become broken and are shaken loose and in order to get away fromthis trouble, ll have brought the insulated end ot the currentgenerating coil out through the sha-tt of the generator byv means of asuitable contact rod 30. As will be seen by referring to Fig. 1, thecenter line of the shaft ot the generator and the center line ot' theelectrode 6 are not in the same straight line but are spaced apart somedistance, therefore, in order to make the connection between thearmature contact 30 and the tixed electrode 6, l have mounted on theback part of the porti n 3 of the bracket a suitable insulator lichcarries a Contact strip 32 having a contact 33 adapted to engage thecontact 30. Tae baclr or the portion 3 is cut away at 34 to allowcertain movements ot the member' '32 and Contact 33 Without any dangerot grounding these parts or the electrede 6 to the bracket. The' members32 and 33 are so proportioned and arranged that the contact 3B-cornes inline with the armature Contact 30.

lt will readily be seen that by slightly I losening the set screws 13and 14C the magneto 15 can be readily slipped oil the bracket and forthe same reason it can be easily put back on, stop pins 35 beingprovided so as to limit the movement of the generator 15 so that thecontact and member 33 cannot be forced out of the position intended forthem. ,i

lt will be seen from Fig. 2 that the portion 19 of the yoke 18 lits overthe upper part of the iange 10 and that the trip lever 16, springs 24:,lever 26 and spring 28, as well as the contacts 30--33 are protectedfrom dust and dirt falling from above, which is highly advantageous asan accumulation of dust and dirt on these members cause rapid Wear.

The operation of my device can be readily understood so it may only bebriefly referred to; as previously stated, an enoine operatingleverengaging the notch 1l of the trip lever 16 causing the same to operateand tensioning the springs 24 until the nose 26 pushes the operatinglever out oft' the notch 17 allowing the springs 24 to return the triplever 16 suddenly to its normal position, but as Will be understood theoverthrow causes the nose 27 to hit the lever 16 a sudden inipulse,separating the contacts 2S) at the time of maximum current generation inthe generator coil.

l or the purpose of starting the engine, l have extended the generatorshatt through the opposite end of the generator and have fastenedthereto` a lever 36, which may be engaged by the operative finger forthe purpose of pulling the current generating member and tri-p lever 16to a position whereby, when the lever 36is released, a spark will beproduced at the contacts 29.

By the construction shown in detail in l `ig 7, l secure a rollingmotion between the roller 22 and the pin 21 with little or no movementof the end of the spring on the roller so that long life is obtained bythis improved construction.

While ll have shown and described one that numerous changes may be madein the llO various ydetails without departing from the v spirit of myinvention and the scope oi' tbc appended claims. Y

Having thus described my invention what l claim is 1. In an ignitiondevice, the combination of a bracket, a fixed and a movable electrode.mounted therein, a magneto generator ha ving a shaft carrying a currentgenerating member mounted on said bracket, a trip lever attached to oneend oi the generator shaft, a yoke carried on the generator adjacentsaid trip lever, springs attached to the opposite ends of said yoke andto the trip lever tor actuating the same to operate the bracket, a triplever attached to one end of? the generator shaft, a yoke fastened tothe generator adjacent said trip lever and having a portion extendinglongitudinally over the trip lever and one end of said electrodes andsprings attached to the opposite ends of said yoke and to the trip leverfor actuating the same to operate the movable electrode as described.- A

3. In an ignition device the combination of, an integral bracket havinghorizontal and` vertical portions, a fixed and a movable electrodemounted in the vertical portion and extending through both sidesthere-ot, a magneto generator having a shaft carrying a currentgenerating member mounted on the horizontal portion of the bracket, atrip lever att-ached to the end of the generator shaft adjacent thevertical portion of the bracket, a yoke having va dat portion tened tothe generator adjacent the trip leven and a portion extending laterally`lirona flat portion into close proximity tothe vertical portion of thebracket forming a housing for the trip lever and one end oi1 saidelectrodes and springs fastened to one end of said yoke and trip leverunder said housing for actuating the trip lever for the purposedescribed.

4. In an ignition device, the combination of. an integral bracket havinghorizontal and vertical portions, a fined and a movable electrodemounted in the vertical portion and extending through both sidesthereof, cooperating contacts on one end adapted to function within anengine cylinder, lever and retracting spring onv the other end ot' themovable electrode, a magneto generator havinga shaft carrying a currentgenerating member mounted on the horizontal portion of the bracket, atrip lever attached to the generator shaft in position to operate thelever on the movable electrode, but normally out of engagementtherewith, a. yoke fasi tened to the generator adjacent the tripleveizsprings attached to the opposite ends of said yoke and trip leverfor actuating the same into engagement suddenly with theV lever on themovable electrode, said yoke having a portion extending laterally fromthe bodyof the yoke forming a housing over the said springs. trip leverand' electrode lever and retracting spring.

5. In an ignition device the combination of, an integral bracket havinga horizontal and vertical portion with holes therein for mounting on anengine cylinder and a web flange uniting with the two portions at apoint whereby at least one of said mounting holes is masked for thepurpose described, a fixed and a movable electrode mounted in saidvertical portion and having projecting ends, a shoulder on the verticalportion, a -magneto generator hai/lng a shaft carrying a currentgenerating member mounted on said horizontal portion, a trip leverattached to the end oli the generator shaft, a yoke fastened to thegenera-tor adjacent the trip levernsprings attached to opposite ends otthel yoke and the lever for suddenly actuating the same, said yokehaving a portion extending laterally into close proximity to thevertical portion and over said shoulder and upper part of said flangeforming a housing for said springs, trip lever and one end of saidelectrodes.

6. lin an ignition device the combination of, an integral bracket havingtivo portions, one horizontal and one vertical, said vertical portioncarrying a fixed and a movable electrode having contacts on one endadapted to enter an engine cylinder, a magneto generator having a Vshaftcarrying ya current generating member vvith one end of the currentgenerating coil brought through and to the end oi said sliaft, a triplever carried on the shaft, a yoke fastened to the generator frameadjacent the trip lever, springs attached to the yoke and trip lever forsuddenly actuating the same, said yoke having a portion extending oversaid springs and trip lever, set screws for fastening the generator tosaid horizontal portion of the bracket. a slot in ysaid horizontalportion for slidably moving thereon said generator when the set screvvsare loosened, means on said vertical part for connecting automaticallythe fixed electrode to said contact on the end oi the sliaiit when thegenerator is slid into position on the bracket and means on the movableelectrode adapted to be acted on by the trip lever for operating saidcontacts.

7. ln an ignition device, the combination of, an integral bracket havingtivo portions substantially at right angles to each other, a fixed and amovable electrode carried on one portion of the bracket, a magnetogenerator having a sha-tt carrying a current generating member with oneend ot the current generating coil brought through and to the end ofsaid shaft, said shaft and fixed electrode being in differ@ ahncments.1means carried by that portl( the bracket carrying the electrodes to.maticaliy completing connection betu the said shaft Contact and thefixed el i v"ide when the generator is moved into piace on tho bracket,a trip lever on the shaft for actuating the movable electrode, a yoke onthe izo generator and springs co-acting between the yoke and trip leverto suddenly actuate theV same as described. v

8. In an ignition device, the combination of, an integral bracket havingtwo portions substantially at right angles to each other, a fixed and amovable electrode carried in one portion and an ignition generatorcarried on the other portion, said generator having its generating'coilterminal brought out to a contact on the end of its shaft,co-actingmeans carried on the generator and its shaft for oscillatingsaid shaft and current generating member carried thereon, means on themovable-electrode for. cop-v eration with said co-acting means and meanscarried on that portion of the bracket carrying the fixed electrode formaking a yielding electrical .connection with said` shaft contact whenthe generator is in operating position on the bracket.

9. In an ignition device "the combination of, a magneto generatorharinga shaft carrying a current generating member and a contact on the end ofthe shaft,said contact being electrically connected to the currentgenerating coil,` a trip lever carried on said shaft, a bracket having apart adapted to be bolted to an engine, said part carrying a fixed and amovable electrode and another part adapted to receive said generator,means on the movable electrode for holding the electrodes normally incontact and ,further means for cooperating with said trip lever, meanson the part of the bracket bolted to the engine for automaticallyengaging the shaft contact when the generator is in operating positionon the bracket and means carried on the generator for giving an impulseto the trip lever for the purpose described.

10. In an ignition device the combination of, a magneto generator havinga shaft carrying a current generator member and a contact on the end ofthe shaft, said contact being electrically connected to the currentgenerating coil, a trip lever carried on said shaft, a bracket having apart adapted to be bolted to an engine, said part carrying a fixed and amovable electrode and another part adapted to receive said generator,means on the movable electrode for holding the electrodes normally incontact and further means for coperating with said trip lever, means onthe part of the bracket bolted to the engine for automatically engagingthe shaft contact when the generator is in operating position on thebracket, means carried on the generator for giving an impulse to thetriplever and means on the bracket for definitely positioning the generatorthereon so that said automatic engagement means cannot be forced out ofoperative position when the generator is installed.

1l. ln an ignition device the combination rof, a magneto generatorhaving a shaft cargaging the shaft contact when the generator is inoperating position on the bracket, a yoke on the generator, springsfastened to the yoke and triplever for giving an impulse to said triplever at the proper time and a cover preferably formed integral with theyoke for the trip leverand co-acting mechanism.

12. ln an ignition device the combination of, a magneto generator havinga shaft carrying a current generator member and a contact on the end ofthe shaft, said contact being electrically connected to the currentgenerating coil, a trip lever carried on said shaft, a bracket having apart adapted to be bolted to an engine, said part carrying a fixed andamovable electrode and another part adapted to receive said generator,means on the movable electrode for holding the electrodes normally incontact and further means'for coperating with said trip lever, means onthe part of the bracket bolted to the engine for automatically engagingthe shaft contact when the generator is in operating position on thebracket and means carried on the generator for giving an impulse to thetrip lever, said generator having its shaft extending at the endopposite from said contact and a lever fastened to said shaft end foractuating said current generating member and inipulse means at will.

13. An ignition apparatuscomprising in combination, two unitarystructures, a generator having a shaft carrying a current generatingmember and aI trip lever with springs for giving a sudden impulse toboth; an integral bracket having a vertical portion adapted to -befastened to an engine cylinder and a horizontal portion with a fixed anda movable lelectrode mounted in the vertical portion and a web flangejoining said two portions on the non-operating side of the bracketwhereby said bracket cannot be removed from the engine until saidgenerator has been removed from the horizontal portion thereof and meansfor automatically electrically connecting the fixed electrode with thecurrent generating coil when the generator is put into operativeposition on the horizontal portion of the bracket.

14. An ignition apparatus comprising in combination, `two u nitarystructures, a bracket having two portions substantially at right anglesto each other, one Aportion having a plug with a fixed and a movableelectrode mounted therein and having means for fastening to an enginecylinder, the other portion having a reinforcing slotted rib to receiveset screws for holding thereto a second unitary structure said secondunitary structure consisting of, an ignition generator having a shaftcarrying, a current generating member, a'contact at the shaft end, atriplever and springs for giving a sudden impulse to the trip lever andconnected mechanism and means coperating between the fixed electrode andshaft contact to complete an electrical circuit through said electrodeswhen the lgenerator is placed j in operative position on t e bracket.

1,5. Anignition apparatus comprising in combination, two unitarystructures; a bracket havingftwoy portions substantially at right anglesto each other, one portion having a plug with a fixed'and a movableelectrode mounted therein and havin means for fasteninguto an enginecylindger, the other portion ,having a reinforcing slotted rib toreceive setscrews a second unitary structure; saidfsecond unitarystructure consisting of, an ignition generator having a shaft carrying,a current generating member, a contact at the shaft end, a trip leverand springs for giving a sudden impulse tothe trip lever and connectedmechanism and means coperating between the fixed electrode and shaftcontact to complete an electrical circuit through said electrodes whenthe generator is placed in operative position on the bracket, saidsprings being fastened at one end to a yoke member and at their otherends to said trip lever, said yoke member being formed to provide acover over the trip lever, springs and electrode contact.

16. In an ignition apparatus, a one piecey bracket having vertical andhorizontal portions, a fixed and a movable electrode mounted in the saidvertical portion with means on the movable electrode for moving l forholdingr thereto described.

17. In an ignition apparatus, a one piece bracket havingvertical andhorizontal portions, a fixed and a movable electrode mounted in the saidvertical portion with means on the movable electrode for moving the samein one direction and other means for returning it to normal position,'an ignition generator slidably mounted on the horizontal portion withautomatic means for connectingthe generating coil of said generator tosaid fixed electrode when the generator is slid into Aoperativeposition, a trip lever for actuating the current generating member ofthe generator and the first mentioned means on the movable electrode, ayoke carried on the generator and springs positioned betweenthe yoke andtrip lever for imparting a sudden impulse to the same after said springshave been tensioned, said the generator and one of said contacts, a

yoke member having springs connected thereto and to said trip lever forlimparting a sudden impulse thereto after said springs have beentensioiied, said connection of the spring to the yoke consisting of; anear formed from a part of the yoke, a pin extending through the ear andthe end of the yoke and a grooved bushing for the spring carried on thepin, said bushing having an enlarged hole whereby a rolling action onthe pin is obtained without movement of the spring in the groove asdescribed.

19. In an ignition apparatus of the plug oscillator type, a bracketcarrying a pair of electrodes having normally closed contacts and agenerator connected in a permanently closed circuit including saidcontacts, a trip lever for actuating the moving element of the generatorand one of said contacts, a yoke member having springs connected theretoand to said trip lever for imparting a sudden impulse thereto after saidsprings have been tensioned, said connection of the spring to the yokeconsisting of; a pin supported on the end of the yoke and a groovedbushing carried on the pin, said bushing having a larger hole than the.pin 'whereby a rolling action is obtained between the bushing and thepin without movement of the spring in the groove.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

CHARLES THOMAS MASON.

